Numerical Study of Overlay Welding Effects on Residual Stresses in Girth Welded Steel Pipes

The overlay of the outer surface of a pipe by welding is one of the ways to decrease the residual stress. In this research, a finite element model by considering phase transformation effect is developed in the SYSWELD software for the simulation of circumferential welding process of two API X65 steel pipes. This model is validated using a hole drilling method. Then, the effect of overlay welding created by three types of welding filler on the residual stress is investigated. The results show that the overlay welding created by ER70s filer increases axial and hoop stresses. But ER304 and IN600 fillers cause reduction of hoop residual stresses. The stresses at the covered area are compressed because of the increase in heat input as an effective factor. Also, axial stresses due to these filers at low weld energy are greater than sample stress without a cover. However, the value of this stresses decreases when the weld energy increases. Thus, the proportional stress level can be obtained in the pipe using the overlay with filers of ER304 and IN600 associated with a high heat input and by selecting suitable overlay dimensions.